Coix lacryma-jobi aka Job's Tears

Taxonomy

Genus Coix Family Poaceae Order Poales Class Liliopsida Phylum Tracheophyta
Job's Tears, also known as Adlay or Adlay millet, is a tall, strongly tillering grass that grows 1-3 meters tall. It is a perennial tropical plant that belongs to the Poaceae (grass family) and is native to Southeast Asia. The plant has two main varieties, one wild and one cultivated. The wild variety has hard-shelled pseudocarps used as beads for making prayer beads, rosaries, necklaces, and other objects. The cultivated variety is harvested as a cereal crop and used for medicinal purposes in parts of Asia. Job's Tears has naturalized in the southern United States and is also grown as an ornamental plant in tropical to temperate areas. It was once widely cultivated as a cereal in India before corn became popular. It has a higher protein to carbohydrate ratio than any other cereal and is viewed increasingly as a potential energy source. In the Cherokee Nation and Eastern Band of Cherokee, the beads of Job's Tears are used in personal attire.

Common names

Job's Tears, Adlay, Adlay Millet

How to care for Job's Tears

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Job's Tears is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Job's Tears should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Job's Tears loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

To ensure optimal growth, the Job's Tears prefers bright indirect light for 6-8 hours each day. Insufficient light can result in slow growth and leaf drop, so it's important to find a well-lit location for this plant. Place it near a window, within a distance of 1 meter (3 feet), to enhance its potential for thriving.

Toxicity

There is no verified data on the toxicity of this plant in the records of Ploi. If any person, including yourself, a family member, or a pet, consume plant material with an uncertain toxicity level, it is advisable to seek the advice of a healthcare expert.

Region of origin

Job's Tears’s native range is E. Asia - E. India.

More info:
Wikipedia

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